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Visiting a counselor or therapist can be a daunting prospect for many even though it may be beneficial to their mental wellbeing. Millions of Americans visit a therapist every year and those numbers are likely to increase.
The reality is that millions around the world live with a mental illness or find themselves in need of counseling. It’s nothing to be ashamed of and most people will experience a mental illness at least once in their lifetime.
Unfortunately, many don’t visit a therapist for one reason or another. Some have no health insurance or are just too embarrassed to do so. Only a small majority of Americans attend therapy when they have no health insurance to cover the cost of the visit. It’s shocking because people genuinely need these services. But, due to a lack of funding, they are unable to see a therapist; that’s not right and puts those people at serious risk. Fortunately, online therapy has been a game-changer and now more people have access to mental health services.
The following are a handful of benefits of online therapy and counseling services.
One of the worst drawbacks of a traditional therapist is that they have a brick-and-mortar office, and you must travel to them. If you have mobility issues, live too far away, or in a remote location, visiting their office presents a problem and it can leave you incredibly frustrated. With an online therapist, all that changes. Regardless of where you live – or what time it is – you can have a virtual counseling or therapy session. It’s all done remotely online, meaning you never have to leave your home. And most therapists are flexible on scheduling appointments since they can speak to you from their home or office. If you have a computer or smartphone with the internet you can contact a therapist. Online therapy suits modern people because of work and family commitments; also, it’s convenient since you don’t have to visit the therapist’s office.
While traditional therapists try their best to be flexible with appointment times, they’re limited to their office hours. Remember, most traditional therapists work in an office and must travel home and care for their families. Online therapists aren’t as restricted with their working hours; they can be slightly more flexible and many counseling services are available online at any given hour. That is a huge benefit because you (or anyone) can have instant access to therapists or counselors. If you urgently need to speak to someone you can without having to visit their office or wait until the next day to get an appointment. This might help you progress faster or get ongoing support.
Many people who visit a therapist has a disability. For some it’s a psychological disability while others are physical. Online therapy requires no travel to speak to someone. If you have limitations, online therapists can give you support over the internet, so you never have to leave your home. It’s useful, especially for conditions such as agoraphobia, where people are afraid to be in crowded places and in some cases, leave their homes.
People feel embarrassed about seeking therapy or counseling. Some worry about the shame it’ll bring to their family and others fear retaliation from an abuser. Others just feel unsure about visiting a therapist office. However, online therapy is private. You can talk to a trained professional online and it can be totally anonymous if you so wish. There are no face-to-face meetings, but you can benefit from their services. You may even feel it’s less intimidating also since you can chat online rather than in person.
Online therapy tends to be more flexible in terms of how your healthcare needs are met. For instance, you want to have daily sessions with the therapist. Since the sessions are all online, you could use their services every day of the week. There are no visits to the office to worry about either. Or you could opt for an appointment once a week, bi-weekly, or monthly. Online therapists and counseling services are flexible and often work around your busy schedule. They can even work around your budget so if you can’t afford to spend a lot of money on these services, it’s not necessary. Please note, the above is not medical advice and should not be considered as such. Nor should it be thought of as a professional opinion.
*THE ABOVE IS NOT, AND SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED AS, A PROFESSIONAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.